"No problem," Han Feng said with a snap of his fingers, his tone casual yet confident.
"Then hurry up!" Zhao Yunxi urged, her voice brimming with urgency as she dashed toward the leftmost thatched hut. Han Feng and Yue Lingshan followed closely behind. As they approached, Zhao Yunxi flung the door open with a swift push.
Han Feng squinted as he peered inside. There, sprawled across a pile of straw, lay Liu Chushuang. Her face was unnaturally pale, beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and her expression was one of evident agony. Han Feng glanced at her briefly before asking, "Where'd the wasp sting her?"
Yue Lingshan hesitated, her voice faltering. "Her… uh… butt."
"Hm?" Han Feng blinked, his gaze drifting over Liu Chushuang's form. Sure enough, she was poisoned—and the venom's potency was no joke. After a quick assessment, he turned to Zhao Yunxi and Yue Lingshan. "I'm about to start the treatment. You two, help her up."
Zhao Yunxi's brows knitted in confusion. "Can't you treat her like this? Why does she need to be propped up?"
Han Feng's lips twitched into a smirk. "I don't really like this position."
Zhao Yunxi: "…"
Yue Lingshan: "…"
What did he mean by that? It sounded… off, somehow. Han Feng cleared his throat lightly, cutting through the awkward silence. "Time's wasting, and saving her is the priority. Let's move."
Snapping out of their daze, Zhao Yunxi and Yue Lingshan nodded. Each took a side, gently lifting Liu Chushuang to her feet.
"Now, move her over to the window," Han Feng instructed.
"Huh?" Both women exchanged bewildered looks. What was Han Feng up to? Still, they complied without further questions, guiding Liu Chushuang to the window's edge.
"Han Feng, what's next?" Zhao Yunxi asked, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
"You two can step outside now. Leave the rest to me," Han Feng said in a low voice.
"What, are we in the way or something?" Zhao Yunxi frowned, puzzled.
Han Feng adopted a serious expression. "Think of this treatment like surgery. Having you hovering around will throw me off my game."
The two women stared at him, dumbfounded, before glancing at each other and reluctantly stepping out of the hut.
"Han Feng, hurry—I can't hold on much longer," Liu Chushuang rasped, her body trembling and her breathing labored. She looked like she might collapse at any moment.
A faint smile curled Han Feng's lips. "Put both hands on the window and bend over."
"Why do I need to do that?" Liu Chushuang asked, her voice weak but suspicious.
Han Feng put on a grave tone. "The poison's deep in your system. This position will help concentrate it in one spot so I can purge it all at once."
"You sure about that?" Liu Chushuang's eyes narrowed with doubt.
Han Feng nodded solemnly. "I'm a doctor. Who else are you going to trust?"
Gritting her teeth, Liu Chushuang stretched her hands to the window and bent forward as instructed. Outside, Zhao Yunxi and Yue Lingshan caught sight of the scene, their faces plastered with question marks. What kind of treatment was this? It was downright bizarre.
Han Feng studied her for a moment, then said with mock gravity, "When I start, it might hurt a lot. You've got to tough it out."
"Do it," Liu Chushuang replied, her lips pressed thin as if steeling herself for the ordeal.
With that, Han Feng began the treatment. A milky-white glow emanated from his fingertips, flowing like a gentle stream. As the light bathed her wound, wisps of white smoke rose from the site, and the venom invading Liu Chushuang's body began to dissipate at a visible rate. In just three seconds, it was gone—completely eradicated.
As the poison vanished, a wave of unprecedented relief washed over Liu Chushuang. She took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air filling her lungs. Her gaze cleared, and a subtle smile crept onto her lips, as if she were basking in the moment.
"Liu Chushuang, are you okay now?" Zhao Yunxi called out, her voice laced with concern.
"I feel great. I think I'm healed," Liu Chushuang exhaled softly.
"Then maybe stop leaning on the window," Yue Lingshan suggested quietly.
"Oh!" Liu Chushuang jolted upright, quickly stepping away. As she turned, her eyes met Han Feng's, and for some reason, her heart skipped a beat—a flutter of inexplicable unease.
"Mission accomplished. The poison's gone," Han Feng said with a dramatic sigh of relief.
"Han Feng, thank you for saving me," Liu Chushuang said, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and complexity. Without his help, she might not have survived this ordeal. Reflecting on how she'd treated him before, a pang of guilt tugged at her.
Han Feng's lips curled into a sneer. "Cut the dainty act—it doesn't suit you. I'm not used to it."
"You…" Liu Chushuang's gratitude curdled into irritation. She'd thanked him sincerely, only to be met with a jab. This guy was infuriating!
"I still prefer your defiant side," Han Feng chuckled, stepping out of the hut. He turned to Zhao Yunxi. "Per our deal, the treasure chests are mine now, right?"
"No problem," Zhao Yunxi nodded. She darted into the rightmost hut and returned moments later, cradling two treasure chests. Handing them over to Han Feng, she watched as he inspected them briefly.
Just as he was about to leave, a thought struck him. "Oh, by the way—what happened to that wasp? Did you kill it?"
"No," Zhao Yunxi shook her head, her tone bitter. "After it stung Liu Chushuang, it flew off. I searched around but couldn't find it."
"So it's still on the island?" Han Feng muttered, his expression darkening. A loose wasp posed a real threat—a lingering danger if left unchecked.
"I'll squash it eventually," Zhao Yunxi vowed, a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I won't stick around," Han Feng said with a wave, clutching the chests as he headed off.
Han Feng's departure left a strange stillness in the air. Zhao Yunxi and Yue Lingshan stood outside the hut, processing the whirlwind of events. Inside, Liu Chushuang sat on the straw, her mind a tangle of emotions. She owed Han Feng her life, yet his biting sarcasm grated on her nerves. That cocky, untamed edge of his—she hated it, yet somehow, it was exactly what she'd come to expect from him.
Meanwhile, Han Feng strode back toward his shelter, the two treasure chests tucked under his arms. His ability to commune with objects gave him an edge others lacked. A quick "chat" with the chests would reveal their contents—no risk, all reward. Even if just one held something useful, he'd profit. The island was harsh, and every advantage mattered.
Back at his shelter, he set the chests down and took a moment to catch his breath. The day had been eventful—slaughtering locusts, leveling up, and now this impromptu rescue mission. He smirked to himself. Liu Chushuang's haughty attitude had always rubbed him the wrong way, but seeing her humbled, even briefly, was satisfying. Still, he hadn't done it for her—he'd done it for the loot.
As he prepared to inspect the chests, his thoughts drifted to the wasp. A single insect might seem trivial, but in a place like this, small threats could snowball into disasters. He'd keep an eye out. For now, though, the chests beckoned. What treasures—or traps—lay within? Only time would tell.